Mohave County miner., 1887-07-02
THE FRENCH slAsOys.
Their Power In Politics and Thcis
Cugious Rites.

S0EsOOo ASasSSs
A curious book has recently been pub
iished at Paris by Leo Taxil, who former.
ly held high grade in Masonry, but who
has now forsaken the craft owing to rea-
sons Of a political nature. The work
gives a detailed description Of the consti-
tntion, rules and rites OF French Masonry,
and it is certainly interesting. whatever
be the facts. From the account OF the
initiation ceremonies at the Lodge OF the
Grand Orient Of France one learns that
there is a considerable amount of clap
trap connected with il, which appears in
credible and contemplate TO an Ameri-
can or British membcr OF the fraternity.
The postulant," says this authority,
latter being conducted through lab
yrinth OF passages, is finally shut up in
narrow little closet and IL ordered to
!raw up his last will aud testament.
TIC wa!ls Of The cell are black and ado.D-
ed with skeletons, death s-heads, and
,roaa-bones. There, is no window, and a
sas'iEht gives 4 dim light. The furniture
consists Of a table and stool. On the
'GrIner IRE placed skull and cross-bones.
SutsIcnly the gaslight is extinguished,
1nd sliding panel opening in the wall
,'eveais Il cavern lighted with sepulcbral
amps. A dccaptated head lying on
,tJod-stained napkins meets the gaze,
| and voice Sounding from the wall
against which the candidate leans cx.
claims in a@c-inspiring tones that the
head is that OF perjured brother who
had disclosed the secrets OF the Order.
rhe means employed for this trick are
very simple. The block ON which the
head appears to rest is hollow and con-
,eals the head OF the performer. who
holds his eyes shut and his mouth partl.
open. The sepulchral lamps are the re.
suit OF camphorated spirits mingled with
,,oarse salt, which, burning with green
ish light, give cadaverous appearance
10 the head. The awful tones Of the voice
are obtained by talking down a speaking
tube Some OF the panels in the wall are
oi ground glass, behind which magic
lantern is introduced, showing moving
specters gradually increasing in size and
apparently starting forward to deyour the
postulan., or masked men Of lie size,
.ho appear to be stabbing an individual
0oand hand and foot with cords.
"At length, when the opening ceremo-
aies are terminated, the Master directs
that the postatant be summoned. The
latter, before leaving his cell, is stripped
Of his clothing, cord is tied around his
yaist, and q mask put over his face 80 az
10 blind!old him completely Thus at
tired, he is conducted 10 the door OF the
hall where the Lodge is in session, and,
after knocking three times, is admitted
and placed between two pillars at one
end OF the room, the point oil q sword be-
ing held 80 as to slightly prick his breast.
after long eatechism has been gone
through with, and the postnlant has ex-
pressed his readiness 10 submit 10 the
terrible trials to which he is about TO he
exposed, the President gives an order to
plnnGc Lin into the cavern. lmmedi-
ateiy two. muscular brethren seize him
and fling him backward into frame
covered by several sheets of stout paper,
which is held in an inclined position. Oi
course the paper gives way and the can
didatc falls at full length Oh a mattress
placed OH the other side. At the same
moment door is banged to, and an iron
ring shaken up and down notched iron
bar makes sound as OF an enormous
lock being turned several times. The
candidate il then subjected TO further
catechisrn, sitting between the two pillars
on stool bris;lng with nails and resting
Oh uneven feet. While in the act OF tax
ing the oAths, the coup OF oaths," fatal
20 peri Ircrs, is handed TO him. The cup
is divided into two compartments, which
turn OF a pivot. The one contains water,
he other an exceedingly bitter concoc-
sion. 1t the moment when he COM
menccS the formula OF the oath he is Civ.
en some Cf the water 10 taste, and at the
WORT Il ever break my oath the mp
per I.ct Oi The cup is turned impcr-
cepliDly round 80 that the bitter drink is
brought TO his lips. "@
"IIn IL then started off on what is
allied the first journey, which il weary
perlmbulation Of the Lodge from east to
west, varied by series OF childish farces
First the candidate is made to walk very
slowly, and then he is dragged along
nurriedIy. Suddenly he is stopped and
told to duck his head because Of vault,
and then he is warned that there are
obstacles to be crossed and is made 10
Jump. Next he is told that there are
steps to be mounted and that he must
lift his right foot, and as there is nothing
Of the kind he naturally stumbles. He is
taken along planks on rollers which give
way beneath him. He is forced to climb
other planks like seesaws, which sudden
ly throw him into space. But the most
absurd trial is that OF the endless ladder.
1t is like treadmill, up which the candi-